Agent 47 is back in his most personal mission yet in Hitman: Absolution for PlayStation 3.

The classic stealth-action series returns with a tense new story promising Agent 47's most personal mission to date, and equipped with a host of new features to enhance every aspect of the Hitman experience for long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Key Features of Hitman: Absolution on PlayStation 3

A dark, personal mission

Innovative stealth gameplay and new Instinct Mode

Disguises return, more important than ever

Experience IO Interactive's new Glacier 2 Engine

Original Agent 47 David Bateson leads an all-star cast

New Contracts Multiplayer mode

Agent 47 finds himself at the centre of a dark conspiracy and embarks on his most personal mission to date. Betrayed by those he trusted at the International Contract Agency, he's now a rogue agent out for revenge. The trail he follows through shadows and corruption leads to Blake Dexter, a rich businessman with mysterious ties to the ICA…

With five different difficulty levels, Hitman: Absolution is the most accessible Hitman game to date. Long-time fans of the series can ramp the difficulty to the max, greeting 47 as an old friend, while newcomers will enjoy taking their first steps in the world of Hitman.

Hitman: Absolution marks not only the return of Agent 47, but also the return of classic Hitman gameplay where stealth and improvisation is very much the name of the game. There are lots of different ways to kill, using the weapons you carry and the environment around you so that you can get in, make the kill, and get out again. Stalk your prey or snipe from afar. Hide bombs under chairs or hide bodies in dumpsters. Just remember that getting out and not getting caught is as important as the actual kill.

The new Instinct Mode is a key tool to help you see the way Agent 47 does. This new feature can be used to locate targets – including locking onto several at once with the 'sharp shooting feature' – and plan escape routes. Instinct is earned throughout the game by executing classic Hitman moves, so the more you play like Agent 47, the more Instinct you'll gain. A silent takedown will do wonders for your instincts!

Disguises continue to be a big part of the Hitman franchise, and in Hitman: Absolution they're more integrated than ever. There are over 300 disguises that 47 can wear in his attempts to infiltrate his targets, and now you can blend even further by impersonating actual characters. But be careful – the people around you will react and interact with you and your chosen disguise!

Hitman: Absolution is powered by IO Interactive's new Glacier 2 Engine, making this the most visually stunning and immersive game in the series. Each level becomes like a mini open-world environment, complete with spectacular detail, rich graphics, dynamic lighting and environments, and inhabited by much more intelligent characters.

The Glacier 2 engine also boosts the AI of the people within the game with a new 'Comprehensive Intelligence Spectrum'. Enemies are no longer just targets, and the other characters are not just walking scenery - crowds will react and interact more naturally, people will get in your way and notice you, too. You'll need to keep an eye on the Attention Bar to see how suspicious people are getting of you and your actions - they'll even notice doors open that were closed before.

Hitman: Absolution features an all-star cast, especially when it comes to the enemies that 47 has to face. Keith Carradine (Deadwood, Dexter) plays the villainous Blake Dexter, Powers Booth (Sin City, Red Dawn, Sudden Death) is ICA head Benjamin Travis, and Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight's Tale) as his secretary Jade. Lassandra Nixon, the head of the Assassin Nuns, is played by Independence Day's Vivica Fox.

David Bateson returns to role of Agent 47, once again providing his distinct voice. The motion capture performance for 47 was done by Lost actor Willliam Mapother while his Lost co-star Marsha Thomason plays his ICA handler Diana Burnwood.

Contracts is the new mode bringing multiplayer to Hitman for the first time. Contracts Mode will let you create your own scenarios, choosing your location, weapons and three targets, aiming to complete the Contract in as little time as possible while earning as much money as possible. You can upload your Contract to the online server and challenge other players to beat your score – and then you can try to beat it yourself using the money you've earned to grab the disguise or weapon you need!